Trialogue. During an informal
picnic on the campus (above) the
following conversation occurs:
Penny: "Michael, do you want
a cracker?"
Michael: "Eat."
Koko: "Don't."
Penny explains that Koko
means, "Don't give it to him.
Give it to me." As human parents
can understand, the young goril
las have a hard time sharing.
"It can be a big deal who gets
what first," says Penny. "Little
wars erupt. They pound each
other like you wouldn't believe."
In a mellow mood, Koko lies on
her back (center) and taps her
armpit-the sign for "tickle."
Michael reaches over to oblige.
Michael offers Koko the back of
his hand (left), a gesture of sub
mission among gorillas in the
wild. Koko responds with a kiss.
When Michael does not want
to be bothered, he can be quite ag
gressive-a mood that Koko re
spects. Fifteen years from now he
will weigh some 400 pounds,
nearly twice as much as she. Pen
ny hopes the pair will mate.